The funk burner bubbles constantly in the background, but it doesn't compensate for the lack of good material. Even the token ballad, "Time Will Tell," is inferior to "So Very Hard to Go" and "You're Still a Young Man" from the group's previous two albums. The repeated invocation, "Giddyup, giddyup, heigh ho," on "Don't Change Horses" is irritating, not exciting. For lack of a melody on the following track, Lenny Williams's fine voice spends much of its time searching for notes. Nonetheless, there is a fine organ solo on one cut, smart horn punctuations on another and a pleasant if directionless workout on the instrumental "Squib Cakes." Tower of Power is a fine studio band in search of a songwriter. (RS 160)

PAUL GAMBACCINI